These unique festivals of Odisha are worth travelling for!

One of the best ways to understand and explore a place is by attending its festivals, which are a reflection of the place’s culture, traditions and its people.

India is one of the most beautiful states, Odisha is noted for its unique and vibrant culture and festivals that tell a lot about the history of the place. People generally associate Odisha with its renowned annual rathyatra, but the state is so much more than this!

Let’s find out more about the many colourful festivals of Odisha:

Odisha takes dance very seriously! Konark Dance Festival in Konark is an important 4-day cultural event that takes place every year. The festival attracts visitors from across the globe as it brings together popular artists on a single platform from all over the world. Some prominent dance forms performed here are Bharatnatyam and Odissi, among others.

One of the prominent festivals celebrated in Odisha is Chhau. This 3-day festival is celebrated by the Bhuiyan tribes living in Odisha. The festival is noted for the performance of the famous Chhau dance, which is a traditional dance form that requires expertise in martial arts. The artists wear huge colourful masks and traditional dresses, which adds to the thrilling experience.

An important piece of information for those who are not aware of Odisha’s history; during the time of Ashoka, a huge part of the state was known as Kalinga, which played witness to the mass murder of several martyrs. Kalinga Mahotsav is celebrated as the victory of peace over war. During this time, a number of martial art performances are organised at Dhauli Shanti Stupa in Bhubaneshwar to commemorate the warriors.

Gamha Purnima is basically Odisha’s own way of celebrating Raksha Bandhan. This is the day when sisters tie rakhi on the wrist of their brothers. Here, on this day, farmers worship their cows.

Also known as the Pana Sankranti, this day marks the new year in Odia calendar. On this day, people in the agriculture sector and farmers, hang a mixture of misri (sugar balls) and water over the plant of tulsi to represent the rain and offer prayers to Lord Vishnu, Shiva, and Hanuman.

Yet another very popular festival in Odisha, Chandan Yatra is celebrated at the famous Puri’s Jagannath Temple for 42 days! During this time, all the deities are bathed using sandal water and are taken out in traditional boats called chapa. These beautifully decorated boats are the main attraction of the festivities.

A one-of-a-kind festival, the Sitalsasthi Carnival celebrates the holy matrimony of Shiva and Parvati. The festival is celebrated in all the Shiva temples of Odisha during the Hindu month of Jyestha. It also marks the end of the summer season.